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[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 188 (Friday, September 29, 2023)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 67063-67065]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-21574]
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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
8 CFR Part 217
RIN 1601-AA94
Designation of Israel for the Visa Waiver Program
AGENCY: Office of the Secretary; Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
ACTION: Final rule; technical amendment.
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SUMMARY: Eligible citizens, nationals, and passport holders from
designated Visa Waiver Program countries may apply for admission to the
United States at U.S. ports of entry as nonimmigrant noncitizens for a
period of ninety days or less for business or pleasure without first
obtaining a nonimmigrant visa, provided that they are otherwise
eligible for admission under applicable statutory and regulatory
requirements. The Secretary of Homeland Security, in consultation with
the Secretary of State, has designated Israel as a country that is
eligible to participate in the Visa Waiver Program. Accordingly, this
rule updates the list of countries designated for participation in the
Visa Waiver Program by adding Israel.
DATES: This final rule is effective on September 29, 2023. The
Secretary's designation was effective on September 26, 2023. The
designation will be implemented on November 30, 2023.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Anjum Agarwala, Department of Homeland
Security, Visa Waiver Program Office, (202) 790-5207.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
- Background
- The Visa Waiver Program
Pursuant to section 217 of the Immigration and Nationality Act
(INA), 8 U.S.C. 1187, the Secretary of Homeland Security (the
Secretary), in consultation with the Secretary of State, may designate
certain countries as Visa Waiver Program (VWP) countries \1\ if certain
requirements are met. Those requirements include: (1) a U.S. Government
determination that the country meets the applicable statutory
requirement with respect to nonimmigrant visitor visa refusals for
nationals of the country during the previous full fiscal year; (2) a
U.S. Government determination that the country extends or agrees to
extend reciprocal privileges to citizens and nationals of the United
States; (3) an official certification that it issues machine-readable,
electronic passports that comply with internationally accepted
standards; (4) a U.S. Government determination that the country's
designation would not negatively affect U.S. law enforcement and
security interests; (5) an agreement with the United States to report,
or make available through other designated means, to the U.S.
Government information about the theft or loss of passports; (6) a U.S.
Government determination that the government accepts for repatriation
any citizen, former citizen, or national not later than three weeks
after the issuance of a final executable order of removal; and (7) an
agreement with the United States to share information regarding whether
citizens or nationals of the country represent a threat to the security
or welfare of the United States or its citizens.
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\1\ All references to ``country'' or ``countries'' in the laws
authorizing the Visa Waiver Program are read to include Taiwan. See
Taiwan Relations Act of 1979, Public Law 96-8, section 4(b)(1)
(codified at 22 U.S.C. 3303(b)(1)) (providing that ``[w]henever the
laws of the United States refer or relate to foreign countries,
nations, states, governments, or similar entities, such terms shall
include and such laws shall apply with respect to Taiwan''). This is
consistent with the United States' one-China policy, under which the
United States has maintained unofficial relations with Taiwan since
1979.
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The INA also sets forth requirements for continued eligibility and,
where appropriate, probation and/or termination of program countries.
Prior to this final rule, the designated countries in the VWP were
Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brunei, Chile, Croatia, Czech
Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary,
Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania,
Luxembourg,
[[Page 67064]]
Malta, Monaco, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal,
Republic of Korea, San Marino, Singapore, Slovak Republic, Slovenia,
Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan,\2\ and the United Kingdom.\3\ See 8
CFR 217.2(a).
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\2\ Taiwan refers only to individuals who have unrestricted
right of permanent abode on Taiwan and are in possession of an
electronic passport bearing a personal identification (household
registration) number.
\3\ The United Kingdom refers only to British citizens who have
the unrestricted right of permanent abode in the United Kingdom
(England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, the Channel Islands,
and the Isle of Man); it does not refer to British overseas
citizens, British dependent territories' citizens, or citizens of
British Commonwealth countries.
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Citizens and eligible nationals of VWP countries may apply for
admission to the United States at U.S. ports of entry as nonimmigrant
visitors for a period of ninety days or less for business or pleasure
without first obtaining a nonimmigrant visa, provided that they are
otherwise eligible for admission under applicable statutory and
regulatory requirements. To travel to the United States under the VWP,
any person who is not a citizen or national of the United States
(hereinafter a ``noncitizen'') must satisfy the following:
(1) be seeking admission as a nonimmigrant visitor for business or
pleasure for ninety days or less;
(2) be a national of a program country;
(3) present a machine-readable, electronic passport issued by a
designated VWP participant country to the air or vessel carrier before
departure;
(4) execute the required immigration forms;
(5) if arriving by air or sea, arrive on an authorized carrier;
(6) not represent a threat to the welfare, health, safety, or
security of the United States;
(7) have not violated U.S. immigration law during any previous
admission under the VWP;
(8) possess a round-trip ticket, unless exempted by statute or
federal regulation;
(9) the identity of the noncitizen has been checked to uncover any
grounds on which the noncitizen may be inadmissible to the United
States, and no such ground has been found;
(10) certain aircraft operators, as provided by statute and
regulation, must electronically transmit information about the
noncitizen passenger;
(11) obtain an approved travel authorization via the Electronic
System for Travel Authorization (ESTA). For more information about the
ESTA, please see 8 CFR part 217.5 (regulation effective July 8, 2015),
80 FR 32,267 (June 8, 2015), 75 FR 47,701 (Aug. 9, 2010);
(12) has not been present, at any time on or after March 1, 2011 in
Iraq, Syria, a country that is designated by the Secretary of State as
a state-sponsor of terrorism, or a country or area of concern
designated by the Secretary of Homeland Security, in accordance with 8
U.S.C. 1187(a)(12)(D), subject to statutorily delineated exemptions or
a waiver authorized by the Secretary; and
(13) waive the right to review or appeal a decision regarding
admissibility or to contest, other than on the basis of an application
for asylum, any action for removal.
See sections 217(a) and 217(b) of the INA, 8 U.S.C. 1187(a)-(b);
see also 8 CFR part 217.
- Designation of Israel
The Department of Homeland Security, in consultation with the
Department of State, has evaluated Israel for VWP designation to ensure
that it meets the requirements set forth in section 217 of the INA. The
Secretary has determined that Israel has satisfied the statutory
requirements for initial VWP designation; therefore, the Secretary, in
consultation with the Secretary of State, has designated Israel as a
program country.
This final rule adds Israel to the list of countries authorized to
participate in the VWP. Accordingly, beginning November 30, 2023,
eligible citizens and nationals of Israel may apply for admission to
the United States at U.S. ports of entry as nonimmigrant visitors for
business or pleasure for a period of ninety days or less without first
obtaining a nonimmigrant visa, provided that they are otherwise
eligible for admission under applicable statutory and regulatory
requirements.
- Statutory and Regulatory Requirements
- Administrative Procedure Act
Under the Administrative Procedure Act (5 U.S.C. 553(b)), an agency
may waive the normal notice and comment requirements if it finds, for
good cause, that they are impracticable, unnecessary, or contrary to
the public interest. The final rule merely lists a country that the
Secretary of Homeland Security, in consultation with the Secretary of
State, has designated as a VWP eligible country in accordance with
section 217(c) of the INA, 8 U.S.C. 1187(c). This amendment is a
technical change to merely update the list of VWP countries. Therefore,
notice and comment for this rule is unnecessary and contrary to the
public interest because the rule has no substantive impact, is
technical in nature, and relates only to management, organization,
procedure, and practice.
This final rule is also excluded from the rulemaking provisions of
5 U.S.C. 553 as a foreign affairs function of the United States because
it advances the President's foreign policy goals and directly involves
relationships between the United States and its noncitizen visitors.
Accordingly, DHS is not required to provide public notice and an
opportunity to comment before implementing this final rule.
- Regulatory Flexibility Act
The Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA) (5 U.S.C. 604(a)), as amended
by the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement and Fairness Act of 1996
(SBREFA), requires an agency to prepare and make available to the
public a regulatory flexibility analysis that describes the effect of a
rule on small entities (i.e., small businesses, small organizations,
and small governmental jurisdictions) when the agency was required ``to
publish a general notice of proposed rulemaking'' prior to issuing the
final rule. Because this rule is being issued as a final rule without a
prior proposal, on the grounds set forth above, a regulatory
flexibility analysis is not required under the RFA.
In addition, DHS has considered the impact of this rule on small
entities and has determined that this rule will not have a significant
economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. The
individual noncitizens to whom this rule applies are not small entities
as that term is defined in 5 U.S.C. 601(6). Accordingly, there is no
change expected in any process as a result of this rule that would have
a direct effect, either positive or negative, on a small entity.
- Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995
This rule will not result in the expenditure by State, local, and
tribal governments, in the aggregate, or by the private sector, of $100
million or more in any one year, and it will not significantly or
uniquely affect small governments. Therefore, no actions were deemed
necessary under the provisions of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of
1995.
- Executive Order 12866
This amendment does not meet the criteria for a ``significant
regulatory action'' as specified in Executive Order 12866, as amended
by Executive Order 14094.
[[Page 67065]]
- Executive Order 13132
The rule will not have substantial direct effects on the States, on
the relationship between the National Government and the States, or on
the distribution of power and responsibilities among the various levels
of government. Therefore, in accordance with section 6 of Executive
Order 13132, DHS has determined that this final rule does not have
sufficient federalism implications to warrant the preparation of a
federalism summary impact statement.
- Executive Order 12988 Civil Justice Reform
This rule meets the applicable standards set forth in sections 3(a)
and 3(b)(2) of Executive Order 12988.
- Paperwork Reduction Act
The Department of Homeland Security is modifying the Office of
Management and Budget (OMB) Control Number 1651-0111, Arrival and
Departure Record, to allow eligible Israeli passport holders to use an
ESTA to apply for authorization to travel under the VWP prior to
departing for the United States. U.S. Customs and Border Protection
(CBP) uses the information to assist in determining if an applicant is
eligible for travel under the VWP. The Department is requesting
emergency processing of this change to 1651-0111 as the information is
essential to the mission of the agency and is needed prior to the
expiration of time periods established under the Paperwork Reduction
Act of 1995 (PRA). Because of the designation of Israel for
participation in the VWP, the Department is requesting OMB approval of
this information collection in accordance with the PRA (44 U.S.C.
3507).
The addition of Israel to the VWP will result in an estimated
annual increase to information collection 1651-0111 of 30,000 responses
and 6,500 burden hours. The total burden hours for ESTA, including
Israel, is as follows:
Estimated annual reporting burden: 3,256,500 hours.
Estimated number of respondents: 15,030,000 respondents.
Estimated average annual burden per respondent: 13 minutes.
List of Subjects in 8 CFR Part 217
Air carriers, aliens, maritime carriers, passports and visas.
Amendments to the Regulations
For the reasons stated in the preamble, DHS amends part 217 of
title 8 of the Code of Federal Regulations (8 CFR part 217), as set
forth below.
PART 217--VISA WAIVER PROGRAM
0
- The general authority citation for part 217 continues to read as
follows:
Authority: 8 U.S.C. 1103, 1187; 8 CFR part 2.
0
- In Sec. 217.2(a), revise the definition of ``Designated country''
to read as follows:
Sec. 217.2 Eligibility.
(a) * * *
Designated country refers to Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium,
Brunei, Chile, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland,
France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy,
Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, the
Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea,
San Marino, Singapore, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden,
Switzerland, Taiwan, and the United Kingdom. The United Kingdom refers
only to British citizens who have the unrestricted right of permanent
abode in the United Kingdom (England, Scotland, Wales, Northern
Ireland, the Channel Islands, and the Isle of Man); it does not refer
to British overseas citizens, British dependent territories' citizens,
or citizens of British Commonwealth countries. Taiwan refers only to
individuals who have unrestricted right of permanent abode on Taiwan
and are in possession of an electronic passport bearing a personal
identification (household registration) number.
* * * * *
Alejandro N. Mayorkas,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2023-21574 Filed 9-27-23; 8:45 am]
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